Court offers youths a jury of their peers

photo by Jon Stinnett
Peer Court Judge Buck Kelty confers with Court Clerk Lilian Morrill. Peer Court Coordinator Al Jarvis recognized Morrill for over three years of service before court began Thursday.

Before the start of official business at Cottage Grove’s Youth Peer Court, Judge Buck Kelty brought five fresh-faced defendants up to his bench.

“In essence, you are being given a second chance,” Kelty said. “Had you been cited by a different agency, you might have wound up in a municipal or a circuit court. You’re getting a second chance due to the fact that the good people of Cottage Grove elected to have this court.”